Coronavirus Outbreak: How To Avoid Scams While Working From Home, Making Donations

Greg Argos reports.

.DURING THIS PANDEMIC, IT'SWAY WE LIVE AND WORK FEELS LIKEIT CHANGES EVERY HOUR OR DAY ANDSCAMMERS ARE TARGETINGVULNERABLE PEOPLE WORRIED ABOUTTHEIR FUTURE.HERE IS GREG ARGOS HOW YOU CANPROTECT YOURSELF.Reporter: IN PENNSYLVANIA,THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE WORKFROM HOME.THOUSANDS OTHERS ARE NOW WITHOUTA JOB.AND CYBER EXPERTS SAY.CRIMINALS WILL PREY UPON THEDESPERATION OF PEOPLE IN THESETIMES.Reporter: HE'S A PROFESSOR OFCRIMINOLOGY AND JUSTICE ATDREXEL.IN NATIONAL DISASTERS HE KNOWSMANY AMERICANS TRY TO BEGENEROUS AND HELP THOSEAFFECTED.YOU SEE THIS ALL THE TIME.Reporter: LIKE THIS ONE, THEHEALTHCARE FOUNDATION LOOKSLEGIT BUT EXPERTS SAY THEY'RENOT.THEY WERE CREATED JUST WEEKSAGO.AND MEANT TO PART CARING DONORSWITH THEIR CASH.DUE DILIGENCE ON THE WAY.SCOPE OUT, YOU KNOW, THE SOURCESONLINE TO MAKE SURE THAT'S ALEGITIMATE COMPANY.AND ITS EXISTING FORCE AND TIME.Reporter: THE VIDEO SAID THESAME IS TRUE FOR THOSE SEARCHINGFOR EMPLOYMENT.HE RECOMMENDS STICKING WITH THEMAJOR JOB SITES LIKE MONSTER ANDINDEED AND TELLS JOB SEEKERS NOTTO BELIEVE ANY JOB POSTINGS ONPAPER BAG OR E-MAIL THEY MAYRECEIVE.IF YOU'RE WORKING FROM HOME,TAKE PRECAUTIONS AS WELL.THE BIGGEST PROBLEM AREPEOPLE THAT ARE MOVING INTOWORKING IN A HOME ENVIRONMENTWHERE THEY'RE NOT USINGCOMPUTERS, TABLETS THAT AREBEING MANAGED BY THEIR EMPLOYER.Reporter: AVOID QUICKINGLINKS FROM SENDERS YOU'RE NOTFAMILIAR WITH AND MAKE SURE YOUROPERATING SYSTEM AND VIRUSPROTECTION ARE UP TO DATE.IF NOT THERE COULD BECOMPANY-WIDE ISSUES WHENEVER WEALL RETURN TO THE OFFICE.I REALLY HOPE WE DON'T SEE ABUNCH OF DATA BREACHES, YOUKNOW, FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD.Reporter: BOTTOM LINE THEVIDEO SAID IF YOU'RE WORKINGFROM HOME, YOU'RE SEARCHING FORA JOB OR INTERESTED IN DONATESMONEY TO THOSE WHO NEED IT.MAKE SURE YOU RESEARCH THE POSTBEFORE YOU GIVE OUT PERSONALINFORMATION.